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First Navy Aircraft Lands at Baghdad International

Navy Newstand

Story Number: NNS030422-10
Release Date: 4/22/2003 1:06:00 PM

From CTF-57 Public Affairs

BAHRAIN (NNS) -- The Navy presence was recently felt at Baghdad International airport, as a Navy P-3 Orion from Patrol Squadron (VP) 46, "the Grey Knights," became the first Navy aircraft to land on the outskirts of the newly liberated city April 16.

Cmdr. Steve Krotow, commanding officer of VP-46, touched down not on the main runway, which was damaged from earlier air strikes, but on the taxiway next to it.

It also marked one of the first times that coalition aircraft had been allowed to land during the day in the capital city due to the hazardous conditions and unsecured areas of the city. VP-46 was on a mission to deliver Vice Adm. Timothy Keating, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), to his meeting with the Commander of Central Command, Gen. Tommy Franks, and other combatant commanders in the region, and return to base.

Keating had nothing but praise for the skill and precision of the Orion crew. "The crew of the P-3 was outstanding. They were professional in every aspect, and were already asking for tomorrow's missions on the way back."

"We came in low and fast. The hardest part was finding the field while flying that low," said Krotow. "I reminded everyone though that the real heroes were the troops on the ground that had fought their way to this point." In appreciation of that effort, VP-46 made sure to have a gift for the ground crew that met them at the airfield. "We brought pizzas. The Air Force ground crew seemed to really appreciate it."

While Keating attended his meeting, the Navy flight crew had the opportunity to look around the area. "The terrain is surreal. The one word of warning was 'stay on the concrete,' and everyone listened." Krotow and his crew even found a Republican Guard S-60 anti aircraft battery, which was identical to the ones fired at VP-46 aircraft during the war while supporting units on the ground with real time imagery. The gun crew had obviously left in a hurry as ground forces approached.

After eight hours on deck, Keating returned, and the P-3 was back in the air returning to Bahrain. Another milestone for the Orion aircrews in a war that showcased the transformational capabilities of the aircraft and crews that fly them.

VP-46 is currently on deployment as part of CTF (Commander, Task Force) 57 in the NAVCENT area of operations, and is based out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash. The Grey Knights have flown more than 5,000 hours while on their current deployment to the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, including ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) missions in direct support of Marine, Army and Special Operation Forces forces on the ground.